This year’s Waimate district civic award function was held on February 12 to celebrate and recognise the work of volunteers across the district.
Individual civic award recipients this year were Mavis Andrew, Barry O’Neill, Vince Thompson and Raewyn Williams.
The youth civic award went to Georgie Soper.
For the first time ever, there were two winners for the group/organisation category; Waimate Trackways and the Waimate Highland Pipe Band.
The awards have been held for the past 16 years, recognising 64 adults, 11 young people and 10 groups for outstanding community service over that time.
Mayor Craig Rowley described this year’s recipients as community heroes, saying their service was important and worthy of recognition.
"We know this is just the tip of the iceberg, there are plenty more worthy recipients in our community.
"It is important that we recognise them, if only to give the people that benefit from their work the opportunity to acknowledge and thank them publicly," Mr Rowley said on the night.
"Many work quietly, unrecognised, behind the scenes, keeping our community active and alive.
"I believe that’s what makes a community thrive."
He was proud of the volunteering community in the Waimate district.
"As the older volunteers step down and hand over the reins, I encourage more people to get involved with volunteering and continue this enriching tradition in the district."
